Blog

One of the most important aspects of the home-buying process is knowing what to expect. The thought of buying a home can be daunting, and you don’t want to be taken by surprise with any unexpected fees. Read More

If you’ve just moved to Canada, you probably still have a bank account with money in it back in your home country. Once you’ve settled down, you want to bring that money with you. There are a few options for doing this, and some of them can be expensive. Learn more about your options and what you need to watch out for. Read More

Dear First Time  Home Buyer,   Saving up a down payment can be one of the biggest challenges keeping you from achieving your goal of home ownership – but we have good news! There is a new program recently introduced by the Government of Canada, First Time Home Buyer Incentive Program (link to official website), or FTHBI, that will assist you and others looking to buy their first home!   What is the First Time Home Buyer Incentive Program? Read More

As you set out on your search for the perfect match in a new home, you’re also looking for a partnership with an experienced mortgage lender. As we all know, mortgages last a long time so you want to choose a lender that will suit your needs, both now and for the years to come. Read More

Every month you pay your mortgage, you increase the equity in your home. Over time, this means that you have tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity. Ultimately, you will get that money when you sell your home, but most people are also able to access up to 65 percent of the equity they have in their home through a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Read More

For most people, coming up with your down payment can be one of the most challenging parts of buying a new home. You’ve heard all of the typical advice about budgeting your money , cutting back on your expenses, and adding a “savings” category to your budget. Of course, these are all helpful, but there are a few other things you can do to help realize your new home dream sooner. Read More

Mortgages for brand new homes in Edmonton aren’t always as straightforward as mortgages for resale homes. Builders need funding to get started on a home build, but lenders are taking on a bigger risk when there’s no physical home to act as collateral. If the buyer backs out of the loan or the builder doesn’t finish the property, the lender is out a lot of money. Read More

Many people outgrow their homes and find themselves wanting something a bit bigger. And we understand trying to buy and sell your home at the same time can feel like a juggling act; you can’t sell your current home until the new home is ready, but you have to figure out a way to finance the new home purchase. Read More

Closing costs are the fees you have to pay just before you take possession of your new home. Many first-time homebuyers forget about them and find themselves scrambling to get enough money as closing day approaches. Read More

Earlier this year, the government implemented new stress test rules for Canadians looking to get a mortgage. The goal is to make sure people are buying affordable homes to prevent housing market issues, but the result is now some Edmontonians can afford a little less than if they had bought last year.  Read More